Housing Assistance for Single Mothers in Virginia

Where to start in Virginia

If you do not know where to call, start with 211 or your local Community Action Agency. Local groups have different services and funds, so ask them to name the right office for your city or county.

Quick reference

Emergency rent and shelter help

Virginia’s local homeless crisis systems are the first stop if you are homeless or close to losing housing. The state Homeless Solutions Program helps fund local providers. It is not a direct statewide cash application. Use the state’s crisis map in the urgent section to find your local intake line.

A local system may screen your family for shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, case management, or another referral. The answer depends on your location, housing status, household needs, available units, and current funding.

When you call, explain where you slept last night, whether you have a written notice, the date you must leave, your children’s ages, disability or pregnancy needs, and whether it is safe for an agency to call or leave a message.

Virginia’s statewide pandemic Rent Relief Program closed to new applications on May 15, 2022, as the state closure notice confirms. Do not apply through an old portal or pay someone who says they can reopen it. A separate local program may still help.

Virginia has 31 Community Action Agencies. The official Community Action page says they may offer housing support and other anti-poverty services. Call the agency serving your area and ask whether it has rent, deposit, emergency, weatherization, or referral help.

For more ways to handle a rent crisis, use the ASMOM rent help guide. The Virginia help guide covers food, health, cash, child care, and other support that may protect rent money.

2026 local eviction help: The Virginia Eviction Reduction Program (VERP) became permanent in 2026. It funds approved local organizations, not renters through one statewide form. Ask 211, legal aid, or your city or county whether a VERP-funded provider serves you. It may offer prevention, court navigation, or referrals, but help depends on local capacity.

Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing

The Housing Choice Voucher program, often called Section 8, helps eligible households pay part of the rent for an approved private rental. Public housing is different because a housing authority owns or manages the home. Project-based assistance stays with a certain apartment rather than moving with the tenant.

Virginia does not have one application for every housing agency. The Virginia Housing voucher page currently says its waiting list is closed. That does not mean all local public housing or property lists across Virginia are closed. Check each area’s current opening and application rules.

Find Virginia Housing partners through the voucher administrator map. Use the HUD agency finder to contact separate local housing agencies. Ask each agency whether its list is open and how to get official opening alerts.

Ask about vouchers, public housing, project-based units, family properties, accessible units, and local preferences. Some agencies give a preference to people living or working in the service area. Ask if you may still apply when you live elsewhere and the list opens. A voucher applicant must meet income, household, identity, and other program rules, which vary by agency.

The ASMOM Section 8 guide explains waitlists, inspections, rent shares, and updates after you apply.

Search for affordable rentals

Do not wait only for a voucher. Apply to affordable apartment properties one by one. A property may have tax-credit units, project-based assistance, senior or disability units, or regular apartments with lower rents.

The official rental search page links to VirginiaHousingSearch and lists a call center at 877-428-8844, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, in English and Spanish.

Use VirginiaHousingSearch to filter by rent, number of bedrooms, location, accessibility, and other needs. Listings can change, so call the property to confirm the rent, deposit, fees, vacancy, waiting list, utility costs, and voucher policy.

Apply to more than one property when possible. Keep a list of the date, contact person, fee, documents, confirmation number, and next update date. Tell the property manager if you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability.

Utility help and weatherization

Virginia’s Energy Assistance Program includes heating (Fuel), emergency heating (Crisis), and summer Cooling help. Weatherization is a separate program. Dates and rules depend on the type of need.

Open now (October 26, 2026): Fuel Assistance accepts applications from October 13 through November 13, 2026. The summer Cooling Assistance window closed August 15. Crisis Assistance has later start dates based on the crisis type. Call the local office if you have no heat or a shutoff threat instead of waiting for another application window.

Apply for Fuel Assistance through CommonHelp, call 855-635-4370, or visit your local Department of Social Services. Households with Dominion Energy or Appalachian Power electricity may also qualify for the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP). It sets a reduced bill based on household income, heating source, and program rules. Ask before assuming you qualify, and pay required monthly amounts on time.

The Virginia weatherization page explains that approved work may include air sealing, insulation, and heating or cooling repairs. Local providers handle applications, and renters may need landlord cooperation.

Use the ASMOM Virginia utility guide for more shutoff and bill-help steps.

Eviction, discrimination, and safety rights

Housing law has strict deadlines. This article is general information, not legal advice. Save every notice, court paper, lease, payment record, repair request, text, email, and envelope.

New notice rule: Since July 1, 2026, the usual written notice for unpaid rent is 14 days before a landlord can file for possession. See Virginia eviction law. A notice is not the same as a court judgment; only the legal court process can force a renter out. Other lease problems may have different notice rules. Ask legal aid to check your notice and dates.

Eviction Diversion: Some general district courts use a court payment-plan option for certain nonpayment cases. It may require you to appear at the first hearing, pay at least 10% of the amount then due, show that you can meet a plan, and meet other conditions. A plan is not automatic. The state diversion rule lists the requirements. Ask a lawyer or the court clerk before relying on it.

Virginia fair housing law protects people based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, and military status. The Fair Housing Office explains complaints and reasonable accommodations.

Voucher and source-of-funds limits: Virginia protects lawful source of funds, including many vouchers, but the law has exceptions. An owner with four or fewer rental units in Virginia may be exempt from the source-of-funds rule. There is also a narrow exception if the funding source is not approved within 15 days after a complete request. Voucher rent, inspection, and screening rules still matter. Check the Virginia fair housing statute and ask the Fair Housing Office or legal aid to review your case.

Survivors in many HUD-covered housing programs may have rights under the Violence Against Women Act. The HUD VAWA page explains notices, documentation, confidentiality, and emergency transfer protections. Ask a trained advocate or lawyer how the rules apply to your housing.

Use the ASMOM Virginia safety guide and Virginia legal guide for safer next steps.

Before court: Save your lease, notice, rent ledger, proof of payments, and dates. Do not skip a hearing because an agency says it might pay. If a landlord changes locks or shuts off utilities without a court order, contact legal aid right away. Ask the court what forms or deadlines apply to your case.

Homebuyer and home repair help

Homebuyer programs are not emergency rent help. Buying may be worth checking only when your income, credit, savings, child care, transportation, and emergency budget can support a mortgage and repairs.

The DHCD down payment program works through participating local providers for eligible first-time buyers. It can provide deferred loan help toward a down payment and some closing costs. Income, location, buyer contribution, home and financing rules apply. Ask the provider how long you must live in the home and what could make the loan repayable.

The current Virginia Housing grant is a true grant used only with eligible Virginia Housing loans. Applicants must meet buyer, income, loan, and sales-price rules through an approved lender.

The VIDA savings program currently lists a $10 match for each $1 saved, up to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs. Enrollment depends on eligibility, readiness, available funding, and a participating intermediary in the area.

Low- and very-low-income rural applicants can also check the USDA Direct Loan. Income, rural location, repayment ability, property rules, and funding all matter.

The ASMOM Virginia homebuyer guide explains these choices in more detail.

Documents to gather

You can make the first call before every paper is ready. Still, missing proof can delay help. Keep copies and send private records only through a trusted agency’s secure method.

For more applications, also save proof of benefits, job loss, shelter stays, disability-related needs, and any notices with deadlines. Ask each agency which records it accepts.